Freda’s Chippendale

Located alongside what I’ve positioned in my head as the scary blah side of central, Freda sits off in a laneway at 107-109 Regent Street. If it weren’t for the colourful hanging lights, that would be one dire entry way. Be prepared to wait + queue. Queue to get in. Wait for a table. We should start by warning you – the minute you walk into the bar proper, don’t look for a seat if its busy, grabbed a waiter and immediate tell him to let Marty know you have a group of X and want seats. We were unprepared and easily ended feeling like this place needed a proper front of house and that side of getting in was a chaotic mess. Chaotic.

We were

chastised for grabbing an open table by the waiter – when it wasn’t clear that there was a system. Pretty sure we got there before the girls who got the table

we asked who we needed to speak to about a table. Marty

Marty wasn’t around so they were like um… then the waiters darted off

so we were left standing around and ultimately siddled over to the bar to grab drinks.

he shows up 12 minutes later and says “you need a table for 4 yes?”.

NOT GOOD. Not good at all but YMMV.

Freda’s inside is a cavernous warehouse space. Its got a great vibe, looks amazing and is exactly what sydney has been missing. Not too dark, pleasantly finished so it is really appealing.

Mandarin sour. $16. This had Pernod in it, so more bitter than sour – the mandarin notes weren’t strong enough so that was disappointing but it wasn’t a bad drink. They cooled their ice cube so it was frosted all over. Attention to detail. Didn’t mind it

View from our table! Finally. I think it was a 30-40 minute wait?

TAPAS STYLED DINNER. They don’t do proper mains so you end up paying $14 for tapas sized bites. We paid $64/4P. Decent enough eating experience.

Beef shoulder. chimmichuri. Meat was tender. could have had a tad more salt but otherwise good.

Olives. $2. You go to sticky bar and a plate of this is free. Still $2 is way better than $6/7 other places dare to chare

Eel on Toast. Um. yeah. not so good. mushed up eel. Need a bit more salt.

Freda’s also has a sweets/dessert menu – cakes at$10 but we didn’t feel like dessert that night

Outside of the Front of House shock, the rude people who linger without ordering drinks at their tables, had a good time a Freda’s. The wait staff was lovely. The guy + gal who attnded to our table were great. Well worth visiting.

To reiterate. The minute you get in, grab a waiter and tell them you want a table.